Business

Wall Group opens fourth Spar store as £3m investment brings 30 jobs

Colin Cunningham, Helen and Gavan Wall, and Emma Morrow from The Wall Group outside the Landscape filling station Spar NI store open on Belfast's Crumlin Road
Colin Cunningham, Helen and Gavan Wall, and Emma Morrow from The Wall Group outside the Landscape filling station Spar NI store open on Belfast's Crumlin Road Colin Cunningham, Helen and Gavan Wall, and Emma Morrow from The Wall Group outside the Landscape filling station Spar NI store open on Belfast's Crumlin Road

FORMER criminal defence barrister-turned retail entrepreneur Gavan Wall and his wife Helen have opened a fourth Spar outlet in north Belfast in a £3 million investment which is creating 30 jobs.

The Landscape filling station on the Crumlin Road, which previously employed 20 staff, has been completely rebuilt.

Standing at 5,000 sq ft, which is more than five times the size of the previous site adjacent to the original store, it boasts an eight-pump GO Fuels forecourt and 22 car parking spaces, and it will open 24 hours seven days a week.

And for the Wall Group, under which Gavan and Helen operate, it adds to a number of other outlets in north Belfast including four Subways and a frozen yoghurts/ice-cream business

The Landscape store will bring Spar NI’s signature fresh credentials to the area, with a range of locally sourced products by Henderson Wholesale.

Shoppers can choose from the likes of the Spar 'Enjoy Local' own-brand fresh food range alongside various food-to-go counters, including Nugelato, a new addition to The Wall Group for 2022.

Helen Wall says: “Our niche ‘foodvenience’ offering is why our stores are so popular, and we are delivering unique experiences that are completely different to our competitors.

“This is the fourth Spar store to open within The Wall Group and we are proud to bring 30 additional jobs to the area. We strongly believe in nurturing talent, and with the difficult times we've seen in the past couple of years, it is great to be able to focus on enhanced local services, which we know our teams provide throughout all our stores and brands, whether in Spar, Subway, Post Office, dailyDeli or Nugelato.”

Paddy Doody, sales and marketing director at Henderson Group, which owns Spar in Northern Ireland, said: “Once again The Wall Group has taken the Spar concept and made it their own to work entirely for their target demographic in the wider north Belfast area.

“The striking Landscape filling station is a fantastic addition to Crumlin Road and the Lower Oldpark area, providing vital employment and growth opportunities, driven by a hugely dedicated team. We wish Gavan and Helen the best of luck as they continue to grow their Spar portfolio in Northern Ireland.”

Landscape filling station will partner with Marie Curie as the official charity partner of Spar across the UK, while also supporting local schools, groups and organisations including the Lower Oldpark Community Association whose support has been critical in delivering the new store, and additional housing on the site.

Helen added “We are in the heart of the community here and believe in supporting those who support us.

“Providing funding and essentials for schools and community groups in the area is how we give back, and we look forward to connecting even more with the communities of Crumlin Road and Lower Oldpark, and wider north Belfast.”